The Try, Test and Learn Fund: Y4Y Youth Force Project

Overview

The project aims to support disadvantaged, unemployed young people by connecting them to suitable employment through the task-based (gig) economy. This project is based on the understanding that young people require six vital capabilities to be work-ready; they must be self-aware, receptive, driven, self-assured, resilient and informed. This program is designed to provide opportunities to begin developing these capabilities. This project proposes to support 80 disadvantaged, unemployed young people. Proposed trial locations include Melbourne, Tasmania, Balga, Perth and regional Victoria. Participants will be supported via training, peer-to-peer networks, externally-employed mentors and other expert resources (such as youth workers) to help with any issues that currently present a barrier to workforce participation. The funded organisation will work with their established networks in the community (and forge new links to socially motivated enterprises and individuals) to provide short, medium and longer-term tasks for participants to undertake with the support of mentors employed for this program. Through engaging with the emerging gig economy, young people will develop skills and build a work portfolio that allows them to connect with longer-term employment and/or stimulate an interest in undertaking more formal education in a particular field.